A top-tier research professional's hand-picked selection of documents from academe, corporations, government agencies (including the Congressional Research Service), interest groups, NGOs, professional societies, research institutes, think tanks, trade associations, and more.

Campus Pride in collaboration with Huffington Post announced today Campus Pride’s 2013 Top 25 LGBT-Friendly Colleges & Universities. The listing highlights the positive work being done in higher education for LGBT students and those campuses who are out in front leading the way.

The Top 25 listing is based on the final responses to the Campus Pride Index, a national benchmarking tool provided by Campus Pride, which self-assesses LGBT-friendly policies, programs and practices.

Unlike the Princeton Review LGBT rankings, the Campus Pride Index is based in research on policy, program and practice and is conducted “for and by” LGBT experts in the field of higher education. Annually campuses update and use the Campus Pride benchmarking tool to improve LGBT living and learning on campus. Over 80% of participating colleges last year improved from their ratings using the index benchmarking measures.

In order to be in the Top 25 this year, a college had to achieve 5 stars in Overall, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity/Expression categories. Each campus also had to be 4.5 stars or above in the eight LGBT-friendly factor areas. The final Top 25 had the highest percentage ratings. The final list reflects colleges with student populations from 2500 to over 25,000, public and private schools alike.

Campus Pride, the nation’s leading educational organization for student leaders and campus groups working to create safer college environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) students, reissued the Campus Pride 2012 LGBTQ National College Athlete Report in light of recent developments in college athletics and the ongoing, pervasive LGBT harassment impacting sports culture.

Campus Pride released the national research in November 2012 with limited fanfare and, since then, the organization has expressed concern over national efforts to “rubber stamp” LGBTQ allies through national sports programs and on college campuses. “What we need is systemic change,” said Shane Windmeyer, Campus Pride Executive Director. “Videos and statements by teams about being an ally are only surface level marketing efforts and create general awareness. Right now, we are dropping the ball when it comes to being informed by research, influencing organization change and decision-making.”

The LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index is a vital tool for assisting campuses in learning ways to improve their LGBT campus life and ultimately shape the educational experience to be more inclusive, welcoming and respectful of LGBT and Ally people. The index is owned and operated by Campus Pride, the leading national nonprofit organization for student leaders and campus groups working to create safer, more LGBT-Friendly learning environments at colleges and universities. The index is supported under the Campus Pride Q Research Institute for Higher Education as well as benefits from strategic partnerships with professional organizations in higher education and related LGBT nonprofit organizations.